Westerly Hospital supporters change location of event

Westerly – Organizers of a candlelight walk tonight to support The Westerly Hospital and preservation of maternity services there have decided to change the location of the event to Westerly Middle School, 10 Sandy Hill Road.

The gathering will begin at 5:15 p.m. and conclude at 6 p.m., when a community meeting on the hospital will begin at the middle school. At the meeting, Attorney Mark Russo, special master for the hospital, Town Manager Steven Hartford, and Dr. Christopher Lehrach will give an update on progress toward acquisition of the hospital by Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

Joe Iacoi, one of the organizers of the walk, said participants are asked to bring candles or flashlights and will walk around the middle school parking lot.

"It's not a protest," he said.

Original plans were for the walk to start at Town Hall and end at the hospital.